1939 New York World's Fair Reconstruction Project in a Virtual World

World's Fair ProjectA five to six-year project to re-create the ’39 Fair began in January 2009. This re-creation will show visitors the history and importance of the Fair and afford companies that had pavilions then, and are still in business today, to demonstrate their products, offer customer training, and hold virtual trade shows.

Please note that a Virtual World and the Real World have some vast differences. In the Virtual World, avatars (people) can be 8 or 10-feet tall, and we don't see through the eyes of an avatar, we see via an invisible camera that follows the avatar. This means things like doorways cannot be "real life" size, them must be taller. Rooms that may have had an 8-foot ceiling, must be higher. We are somewhat limited on the number of objects (prims) that can be used in a region (sim), so in many cases we must rely on textures (photos applied to objects) to show what is necessary. Considering those differences, our goal it to be true to the essence of the Fair while not always being able to create each and every detail.

1939 New York World's Fair Administration Building in Virtual Reality
Recreation of the Administration Building in the
Virtual World on Reaction Grid

ReactionGrid owners, Kyle and Robin Gomboy of G2, and Chris Hart of Code Torque, have created a Virtual World which focuses on high technology and education using in part, the 1939 New York World's Fair as a back-drop.”

Currently several companies are building their facilities "in-world", and a major east-coast university is planning to use an area for teaching children on-line.

A “Theme Park – Welcome Area” with some of the buildings and features from the Fair is under construction. The area, 39 Fair HQ houses the main part of the Administration Building, a "Zone Walk" in which visitors can view photos and information from several exhibitors from all 7-Zones of the Fair.

We need help with this all-volunteer project, both In-World and in the Real World. Here's what we are looking for:

Real World

  • Photographs - especially interior shots
  • Drawings with building dimensions
  • Stories
  • Sound tracts
  • A volunteer to convert 8m & 16mm film to DVDs

Please Note: We are not asking for you to give original document of any kind. Electronic copies of material is preferred. If you are not able to send copies, you can send originals for us to scan. All material will be returned promptly.

In-World

  • Builders
  • Scripters
  • People who want to learn both about the Fair and Virtual Worlds

If you can help or are interested in this project, please contact me at: